Business as Usual is Bad for RSL

• Deseret Morning News, Monday, March 31, 2008 3:30 PM

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis cut an unhappy figure at the press conference after Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire stole at the last minute what looked like a 1-0 home victory for the Royals. Before the first reporter could even finish asking his question after the game ended in a 1-1 tie, Kreis snapped, "You're gonna ask me what?" he said. "You're gonna ask me, 'Just like last year, right?'"

In truth, it was just like last year, when RSL surrendered a 1-0 home lead to FC Dallas in the dying seconds of its season opener, a result that set the tone for a season the Royals would later finish second-to-last. Not that anyone particularly thinks this result has any bearing on the great things the team could do this year.

There were some positives, says Brad Rock of the Deseret Morning News. For starters, the team dominated the game statistically, outshooting the Fire 17-8 with four times as many shots on goal (8-2). "I thought we played all-soccer," said Kreis. Indeed, Rock says RSL played like a team "that expected to win." However, that still isn't good enough, not for a franchise that's yet to make it to the playoffs or record a winning season. As Rock says, "RSL is in need of good things to happen -- fast."

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